Jonny Harline's short career summary on the Brigham Young athletic website says it all.

The recap of his sophomore season says simply, "Saw limited action on special teams."

His 2005 entry is significantly longer, topped by his selection as a first-team Mountain West Conference tight end and the Cougars' receiver of the year. He finished with 63 catches for 853 yards with five touchdown receptions.

Harline's senior year, which kicks off Saturday at Arizona, already has more fanfare. He's on the watch list for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end.

Harline joined the team following a two-year Latter-day Saints church mission in New York City, during which he says he fell in love with Spanish Harlem. "I met a lot of interesting people and had some great experiences," he says. "There's always something going on ... I've been back to visit a couple times."

But it took him awhile to get back into playing condition.

"Like a lot of guys here, when you go on your mission, you don't work out a ton," he says. "When I got back in January, I felt better; then that spring I started getting stronger and faster again."

He shot up the depth chart and became a key part of a resurgent BYU passing game. His biggest day was a 10-catch, 123-yard outing against New Mexico, but he made a big impression at Notre Dame when he had seven catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

"I guess I was a little surprised, but I tried not to look at it in the big picture. Every play, you just go out and try to get open, and if the ball comes your way you go catch it," says Harline, who's from Orem, Utah.

He is not nearly as unassuming on the field, where he makes use of his 6-4, 238-pound frame to churn out extra yards after catches. It might also come as a surprise that the soft-spoken tight end has a passion for the guitar. He owns four, he says, and prefers to play hard rock, listing Guns N' Roses and Metallica among his favorites.

"I don't play as much as I used to," he says. "Back in high school I had a lot more free time, and I'd play a couple hours a day, mostly on my own."

He's hoping the Cougars strike the right chord this year. Last season saw BYU (6-6) lose in overtime to conference champ TCU and Utah and by a touchdown to California in the Las Vegas Bowl. "We were so close," Harline says. "We just want to do whatever it takes to get that little extra."